, 1887-03-03
Rushing Work In the Last Days
Of the Session.
Congress Cleaning Up An Ac-
emulation Of Bills.
The Union League Passes
Series OF Resolutions.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-Conference
report on the river and harbor bill was
presented by Mcmillan and explained.
The bill as IL came from the house
originally appropriated, he said, 81
468,OOO. AS It passed the senate it APP
propriated $1O,62OOOO. AS now re-
ported from the conference committee
il appropriated $9,9l3,S0O. The read
ing OF the bill was then commenced.
It was interrupted for the following
proceedings: Mr.. Platt inquired of
Hoar the meaning and purport OF the
report made this morning from the
committee on privileges and elections
in the case OF Senator-elcct Turpie, OF
Indiana.
Mr.. Hoar replied that under the
general rule the senate functions OF the
committee expire with the congress
and all its papers are returned to the
senate and placed on file. II the ere
dentials OF Turpie had been retained
by the committee without
action until noon on the
4th of March the theory under
operation of that general rule would
then have happened which had hap
pened this morning, that is, the papers
would had gone on the files Of the senate
and the committee would have been
discharged from their further consider
alton. The only alternative to that
course would have been an assump-
ton by the committee or by the SEN
ate at the present session to deal with
the credentials of the gentleman claim
ing to be the senator elect before the
time had arrived for the begin
ming OF his term and before
he had presented himself. The
senate was continuing body
and it was therefore possible that it
might be within its constitutional
power TO determine in advance the
right of the senator to his seat, but it
would be violation of all constitu-
tional precedents and it would be, in
his judgment, a violation of sense
of justice and propriety of the SEN
ate and of the American people.
SENATE, EVENING SESSION.
When the senate resumed its ses-
sion the deficiency bill was reported
from the house and read the first and
second time, (Mr. Edmunds not being
presently, and referred to the commit
tee on appropriations. The bill for
ascertaining and settling private land
claims in New Mexico, Arizona and
Colorado, (Which was pending when
recess was taken), was again taken up,
and after long discussion the bill was
amended so as to make it applicable
to other states and territories and was
passed without division. Conference
was asked.
The senate then took up house bill
for allowance for claims reported by
accounting officers OF the United States
treasury department. The bill ord
cred contained ninety-three printed
pages giving the names OF several
claimants and the amount due each.
the majority being for quite small
sums. They are chiefly for quarter
masters and commissaries stores, taken
by the army during the war in Mis-
souri,, West Virginia, Kentucky, Mary
land and some portions OF Tennessee.
There having been some $500 such
claims fled under the act of July 4,
1854.
Mr.. Sherman denounced the law
which required these small claims
after being allowed by the treasury to
be passed upon by congress necessi-
tating the employment OF attorneys
who exacted fees amounting to thirty,
forty and fifty per cent. He argued
that they should be paid, not to at
torneys, but directly to claimants. He
moved to strike out the amendments
reported by the committee on claims
which makes drafts payable to the
order OF claimants, but deliverable to
attorneys or agents who have filed
powers of attorney.
Mr. Harris moved to amend that
provision so as to leave the treasury
to act in the matter OF
under its own rules and
Sherman assented to that propo-
sition and the bill was so amended.
The bill was then passed without di-
vision and conference was asked.
The legislative appropriation bill
VAS received from the house and read
he first and second time,
not being present, and WAS
eferred to the committee on appropri-
tions.
Resolutions in memory OF the late |
Iessrs. Arnold, Beach and Dowdney,
from the state OF New
rork, were presented by Miller, who
ddressed the senate in eulogy OF the |
eceased. Blackburn also eulogized
rnold. Like resolutions referring to
ne death of late Representative Price,
| Wisconsin, were presented by
pooner, who addressed the senate.
he resolutions were severally adopted
nd the senate, at III 40 2. M, adj
'urned
HOUSE.
ssion to be devoted TO the conseparl
Oh of bridge bills.
EVENING SESSION.